'There's your new spacecraft, America': NASA's Orion travels 3,600 miles into space, farthest trip in 40 years (VIDEO)

After blasting off from Kennedy Space Center Friday morning, NASA'S Orion traveled 3,600 miles above Earth — the furthest a human-built craft has gone in four decades. The unmanned spacecraft landed in the Pacific Ocean just 4 1/2 hours after liftoff.

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Published: Friday, December 5, 2014, 7:02 AM
Updated: Friday, December 5, 2014, 7:23 PM
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The spacecraft that could one day take man to Mars took one small step toward that dream Friday.

After blasting off from Kennedy Space Center, NASA'S Orion shuttle traveled 3,600 miles above Earth — the farthest a human-built craft has gone in four decades.

It splashed into the Pacific Ocean at 11:30 p.m., just 4 ½ hours after it launched from Florida.

After blasting off from Kennedy Space Center, NASA'S Orion shuttle traveled 3,600 miles above Earth — the farthest a human-built craft has gone in four decades. NASA Television After blasting off from Kennedy Space Center, NASA'S Orion shuttle traveled 3,600 miles above Earth — the farthest a human-built craft has gone in four decades.

"There's your new spacecraft, America," Mission Control commentator Rob Navias said as the Orion capsule neared the water.

The U.S. Navy will help NASA recover the craft and bring it back to land.

The unmanned craft orbited the Earth twice and traveled 60,000 miles during the test mission. NASA The unmanned craft orbited the Earth twice and traveled 60,000 miles during the test mission.

The unmanned craft orbited the Earth twice and traveled 60,000 miles during the test mission.

The short flight is the first test of the craft that could be used to send man to Mars in the future.

The craft orbited Earth twice and then crashed back down into the Pacific Ocean. Chris O'Meara/AP
The craft orbited Earth twice and then crashed back down into the Pacific Ocean.
The spacecraft is not carrying any humans, but scientists hope it will in the future. NASA
The spacecraft is not carrying any humans, but scientists hope it will in the future.
NASA's Orion landed just 4 1/2 hours after it launched.
NASA's Orion landed just 4 1/2 hours after it launched.
The unmanned craft splashed into the Pacific Ocean.
The unmanned craft splashed into the Pacific Ocean.
Getty Images provides access to this publicly distributed image for editorial purposes and is not the copyright owner. Additional permissions may be required and are the sole responsibility of the end user. Bill Ingalls/NASA/Getty Images
Bright lights illuminate NASA's Orion spacecraft at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Space Launch Complex.
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  • Getty Images provides access to this publicly distributed image for editorial purposes and is not the copyright owner. Additional permissions may be required and are the sole responsibility of the end user.
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NASA tried to launch the unmanned shuttle Thursday, but powerful winds and a technical issue forced crews to scrub the mission and reschedule.

The shuttle did not carry any humans, but scientists hope that it could be used to send astronauts to asteroids and even Mars one day.

MANDATORY CREDIT: (NASA/Bill Ingalls) HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY BILL INGALLS / NASA / HANDOUT/EPA NASA’s Orion spacecraft launched Friday.

However, it will be at least another seven years before people could climb into the shuttle.

The test launch cost about $375 million.

With News Wire Services

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mwagner@nydailynews.com

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